Things You'll Need:
- Veterinarian
- Safe area
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Step 1
Does your dog need medication? For some dogs, a mild tranquilizer or homeopathic medicine can ease the thunder tantrums, which can include excessive panting, continual pawing, and biting. These medicines can range from a canine form of Valium to Bach Flower therapy. There are some drawbacks from drugs: they have side effects and often are only good when you can predict the exact time of a thunderstorm, not exactly an easy trick.
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Step 2
Consider Pheromones. Several companies produce a type of pheromone that female dogs produce that can be a calming agent. These pheromones can be spread through a diffuser, or sprayed onto a clothing item, like a bandanna.
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Step 3
Music and white noise. Loud music and a white noise generator can drowned out the concussion of the thunder. It often can make thunder anxiety less severe (although constant static noise can increase anxiety of the pooch's human owner).
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Step 4
Safe space. If you have a quiet, interior room that doesn't have windows or other exposure to the outside, consider turning this into a safe space for your dog. You can add toys and a bed to make it more comfortable.
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Step 5
Take a ride. Believe it or not, my dog instantly calms down when I put her in the space behind the seats of my Ford Ranger pick-up truck during a thunderstorm. It's a little screwy to be in a truck at 3 a.m., but her fear of storms has decreased immensely.
